Former MPR Secretary-General Ma'ruf Allegedly Demanded 10% 'Assalamualaikum Fee' for Projects
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has arrested the former Secretary General of the People’s Consultative Assembly of the Republic of Indonesia (MPR RI), Ma’ruf Cahyono (MC), in connection with an alleged gratification case involving the procurement of goods and services within the MPR RI Secretariat General. In this case, the KPK revealed that Ma’ruf applied the term ‘assalamualaikum money’ for companies seeking procurement projects within the MPR RI Secretariat General at the time.
“For work offers at the MPR RI Secretariat General, prospective partners were first asked for a fee by MC, using the term ‘hangus money’ or ‘assalamualaikum money’, amounting to around 10 per cent of the value of the work package,” explained the KPK’s Acting Director of Investigation, Achmad Taufik Husein, at a press conference at the KPK building in Kuningan, South Jakarta, on Thursday (9/7/2026).
Taufik explained that during his tenure as MPR Secretary General from 2016 to 2023, Ma’ruf, as the Budget User (PA) at the MPR RI Secretariat General, allegedly appointed himself as the Budget User Proxy (KPA) as well as the Commitment-Making Officer (PPK).
During his tenure, Ma’ruf allegedly had one trusted associate, Zakaria (Z), who was present daily within the MPR RI Secretariat General. Ma’ruf then instructed Zakaria to contact and gather a number of businessmen who were prospective partners for projects at the MPR RI Secretariat General.
“The total money received by MC from these fees amounted to around Rp 7 billion, whether received directly or through the intermediary, namely Mr Z,” he continued.
The KPK revealed that Ma’ruf also instructed staff to appoint providers of goods and services in accordance with his wishes or those conveyed by Zakaria, through a direct appointment (PL) mechanism. Ma’ruf even received a trading account from one of the brokerage corporations appointed to win work packages within the MPR RI Secretariat General.
“The value of the account is estimated to have reached Rp 14.4 billion,” said Taufik.
Taufik explained that Ma’ruf also opened a nominee account in the name of Fauzul Akhyar (FA), a private party from PT Valbury Ecapital International (VEI). The company was a supplier of office stationery within the MPR RI Secretariat General.
“Within that account and trading account, between 2021 and 2022, MC is alleged to have received sums of money totalling Rp 16.4 billion,” Taufik explained.
“Thus, from the two receipts in the bank account and trading account used as depository accounts, MC is alleged to have received gratuities amounting to around Rp 30 billion,” he added.
Taufik stated that Ma’ruf was unable to prove that all these receipts came from legitimate sources. Moreover, Ma’ruf never reported the gratuities to the KPK within 30 working days of receiving the money.
Ma’ruf has now been detained by the KPK after undergoing questioning as a suspect for the second time. He is being held for the first 20 days, from 9 to 28 July 2026, at the State Detention Centre at the KPK’s Red and White Building branch.
For his actions, Ma’ruf is charged under Article 12B of Law Number 31 of 1999 as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001 on the Eradication of Corruption, in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) point 1 of the Criminal Code.